Appledore and Instow

Or things to do on a dull grey Devon December day - part II.

The day after Boxing Day I was joined by Vic for a trip to Appledore and Instow.  We started off at Appledore with a walk along the estuary to the burrows.  We particularly wanted to find an old derelict slipway that we had seen used to good effect in other pictures.  Sadly the light was just as poor as the day before, this and low tide meant that we had to settle for a some low angles and close-up abstracts.

 After lunch in Bideford, we crossed the estuary and spent a couple of hours in Instow.   The light improved slightly, so I chanced a couple of wide-angle shots of the boats stranded by low-tide.

Beachcombing at Westward Ho!

Or things to do on a dull grey Devon December day. 

Post Christmas day, I always like to get out with the camera for some fresh air, exercise and maybe get a few images of the fabulous North Devon coast.  Sadly the weather this year was not helpful, with several very grey days.  So on Boxing Day I spent a few hours at Westward Ho! 

Westward Ho! is famous for being the only place in the UK that has an exclamation mark as part of its name (and the only town I can think of that is named after a novel).  It is also a place I know well, having spent many summer Sundays there as a child.  I knew I could find some potential pictures along the huge pebble ridge that is a major feature of the beach.  Sure enough, I was able to find enough interesting bits in the strand-line to keep me occupied for a couple of hours.

A Christmas Tree

An appropriate image for my last post before Christmas, and one I have been waiting a year to show.  I took this shot on Boxing Day last year on the edge of Exmoor.  Before anyone accuses me of decorating the tree myself, let me assure you, it was like that when I found it.  Besides it was far too cold to get creative. 

I have seen, and photographed, this tree on a previous Christmas and it was decorated then too.  So it must be something of a local tradition.  I have no idea why.  There are no houses in the vicinity.  Just a minor road, the moor and a tree with tinsel on it. Still, that's Devon for you.

Cambridge Christmas Lights

This is a busy time of year, so I am behind on the blog.  About 10 days ago, the Abbey Horizons group had one of our regular outings to take pictures.  The subject was the Christmas lights in Cambridge.  We spent 3 hours or so circuiting the centre of town followed by a warm-up, pint and bite to eat in the Eagle.  Discussing our pictures, we came to the conclusion that Cambridge's lights are just too tasteful.  Lots of subtle white lights and no gaudy riots of colour. I tried a few zooms to add interest and also shot the occasion shop window.